History of the M.E. Church, Vol. III - Media Sabda Org
History of the M.E. Church, Vol. III - Media Sabda Org
History of the M.E. Church, Vol. III - Media Sabda Org
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General Conference. But Lee, who had stoutly opposed it from <strong>the</strong> beginning, reports that "<strong>the</strong><br />
bishops and preachers in general showed a disposition to drop it and all things belonging <strong>the</strong>reto."<br />
Asbury even "requested that its name might not again be mentioned in <strong>the</strong> conference." "It was<br />
tacitly abolished; it was dead," says Lee's biographer, "and he was present at its burial." It had<br />
threatened to disown him as a preacher, because <strong>of</strong> his opposition to it. "His triumph had come, and<br />
it was complete. He enjoyed it in silence."<br />
In sketching <strong>the</strong> organization <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Church</strong> by <strong>the</strong> Conference <strong>of</strong> 1784, I have anticipated some<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> amendments <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Discipline, adopted at <strong>the</strong> present session, and need not repeat <strong>the</strong>m. On<br />
<strong>the</strong> first day rules for <strong>the</strong> government <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> body were enacted. A committee was appointed to<br />
prepare and report to it all its business; as, however, <strong>the</strong> debates in <strong>the</strong> committee had to be repeated<br />
in <strong>the</strong> full assembly, it was found not to expedite, but ra<strong>the</strong>r retard business; it was enlarged, but at<br />
last dismissed. The chief restrictive regulation adopted provided that two thirds <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> members<br />
voting could abolish an old law or make a new one, but that a majority might alter or amend any<br />
existing law.<br />
[7]<br />
The first day was spent in considering <strong>the</strong> rules <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> house. On <strong>the</strong> second, O'Kelly introduced<br />
a motion affecting radically <strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> episcopate, and indirectly reflecting on <strong>the</strong><br />
administration <strong>of</strong> Asbury; it absorbed all attention for nearly a week, so that <strong>the</strong> revision <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Discipline, and <strong>the</strong> most needed legislation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> session, did not begin till Tuesday <strong>the</strong> 6th. The<br />
excited debates were relieved by extraordinary religious services on Sunday, when Coke preached<br />
"a delightful sermon" on Rom. viii, 16 -- <strong>the</strong> "Witness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spirit" -- which was printed by order<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> conference. O'Kelly, who was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most commanding men <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> itinerancy, preached<br />
in <strong>the</strong> afternoon on Luke xvii, 5: "The apostles said unto <strong>the</strong> Lord, Increase our faith." "The power<br />
[8]<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lord attended <strong>the</strong> word," says a hearer. At night Henry Willis, <strong>the</strong> most endeared to Asbury<br />
<strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> itinerants <strong>of</strong> that day, preached on Psalm xcv, 10, 11, [Psa 95:10-11 Forty years long was<br />
I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in <strong>the</strong>ir heart, and <strong>the</strong>y have not<br />
known my ways: 11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that <strong>the</strong>y should not enter into my rest. -inserted<br />
by DVM] probably with reference to <strong>the</strong> strifes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> period against <strong>the</strong> bishop, for Willis<br />
defended him and opposed O'Kelly in <strong>the</strong> conference debates. Meanwhile <strong>the</strong>re was daily preaching<br />
in <strong>the</strong> city and vicinity, and a general "revival" kindled, for <strong>the</strong>re were many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> preachers who<br />
cared more for <strong>the</strong> prosperity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Church</strong>es than for <strong>the</strong> controversies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> conference.<br />
On Tuesday <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> second week began <strong>the</strong> revision <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Discipline. Regular General<br />
Conferences were ordained, and <strong>the</strong> Annual Conferences were distinguished, from <strong>the</strong>se quadrennial<br />
assemblies, by <strong>the</strong> title <strong>of</strong> "District Conferences," as it was determined to hold one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m for each<br />
[9]<br />
presiding elder's district, <strong>the</strong>ir limits to be defined by <strong>the</strong> bishops, "yet so as not to include more<br />
than twelve, nor less than three circuits in each district." The bishops had also power to appoint <strong>the</strong><br />
times <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir sessions. The character <strong>of</strong> a "supernumerary preacher" was for <strong>the</strong> first time stated; he<br />
is "one who is so worn out in <strong>the</strong> itinerant service as to be rendered incapable <strong>of</strong> preaching<br />
constantly, but is willing to do any work in <strong>the</strong> ministry which <strong>the</strong> conference may direct and his<br />
strength enable him to perform." Provision was made for <strong>the</strong> election, ordination, and trial <strong>of</strong><br />
bishops. The <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>of</strong> Presiding Elder took, for <strong>the</strong> first time, a definitive form, and <strong>the</strong> title appears<br />
[10]<br />
for <strong>the</strong> first time in <strong>the</strong> Discipline. The Order <strong>of</strong> Elders was provided in <strong>the</strong> organization <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> 1784; as Wesley, however, had requested that as few candidates as were absolutely